COLLINGWOOD forward Patrick Karnezis is closing in on his senior debut for the club after booting six goals in the VFL on Saturday.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said last week that Karnezis would be very much in the selection mix towards the latter half of the year if he kept performing solidly at the lower level.
But Karnezis may have accelerated his chances on Saturday against Geelong at Victoria Park, after his dangerous forward play yielded nine marks and 13 disposals to complement his six-goal haul.
He has now kicked 16 goals in five games in the VFL.
Karnezis told AFL.com.au he was enjoying being back out there after an extensive pre-season lay off because of a lingering groin injury, which was diagnosed as osteitis pubis.
"For me it's just about keep working at it, getting my work rate right, along with my conditioning and match fitness and the main thing is that I'm pulling up pretty well," Karnezis said.
"So all heading in the right direction, hopefully."
The 22-year-old feels far more settled at Collingwood, after battling homesickness and the pull of family in his three seasons on the Brisbane Lions' list.
Picked at No.25 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, Karnezis played 21 games for the Lions.
Karnezis sought a trade back home to Melbourne at the end of last season and both clubs accommodated his wish by orchestrating a straight swap for former Pie Jackson Paine.
"Leaving Melbourne to go to Brisbane was pretty tough. It was a good experience. I took the positives and negatives from it," Karnezis said.
"I'm back at home with my family, my brother, my girlfriend, grandparents and my mates outside of football.
"That's the main thing I wanted for my football and now I'm able to just focus on that and I'm comfortable at home now."
He will initially push for a forward spot in the Magpies' senior team, probably as a third tall, but Karnezis hopes to push into the midfield once he finds some more continuity in his football.
At 191cm and 88kg, Karnezis hopes to emulate captain Scott Pendlebury as a tall, mobile onballer and has set his sights on completing a full pre-season next year.
"Speaking to the coaches, and once I got to Collingwood, the goal is to get myself in the midfield in the future," Karnezis said.
But until then, he is enjoying having family support around him.
"I can see people like my dad, my grandfather, everyone here watching and that's something I'm really enjoying," Karnezis said.
